Survey
One of the things I really wanted to do come the end of this school year in japan, was to survey my students about how they thought I was as a teacher. Partly for the inevitable ego boost, but also because I wanted to find out some ways to improve my teaching. While I think I have improved greatly since arriving in japan, it is a slow process. In order to be a more effective teacher I really need as much feed back as possible.
I tried to make the survey a bit fun. I knew I was giving it on my last class, so it needed to be pretty short also. I contained 6 questions and room for comments. The first three questions involved them circling various adjectives to describe me, my speaking and the class. The fourth question was about rating their favorite, least favorite, and most useful class. The fifth about what they would want to do if they had more classes. The sixth about an overall opinion. Finally, there was space for them to write comments in either english or japanese. I allowed japanese here because I really wanted as much information as they could give.
For the most part it was pretty fun. As i expected most of the students were overly kind in their evaluations. However I did learn a few things I will change for the upcoming school year. A couple of student really wanted a way to write a journal or diary back and fourth with me. (Which would be impossible if all 200+ students were to do it, but I may make it an option…) Of course everyone wants to play more games. I was a bit surprised by the number of students that wanted to talk with me directly more. I will have to figure out a way of making that possible. (Possibly a one on one interview of some kind, but again with the 200+ student problem. Suggestions?) A lot of students wanted me to work on my handwriting. (^_^;;) And so on.
Some of the other stuff was really fun, so I thought I would share it with you.
Perhaps most interesting was the survey I posted in its entirety above. The comment on the bottom is perhaps sweet, but when you read their idea for future classes, it turns a bit… creepy…
Could you get all “Web 2.0” on them and create a blog or a wiki to keep in touch with your students all at once? They could write to you, and you could reply publicly for all to read, or something along those lines? I mean, it’s not like you’re new to blogs or anything…
that’s quite the likeness…. they really captured the twinkling stars of cleanliness that hover just to the right of your mug! But where’s your lightning-bolt-scar?
So what did they want to do after they got to your home, try on your clothes?
Alycia,
I have been considering this option. However, surprisingly a large number of students don’t use computers at home. Even though japan is a very technological country, computers are only now becoming common. I worry that it would be a lot of work for nothing. I also tried this year to have a kind of public dialog on a bulletin board, but without much success. I think that was my fault though. Great idea, but I need to find a way to make it more appealing.
Mara,
I think it is quite a good likeness! Although, I have way to much hair, and I rarely wore a tie. But the button down shirt and cardigan are right on! And the stars? that just happens when you’re are as charming as me!
I don’t really want to know what they have planned for the class trip to my house. Maybe rifling through my draws and such. It’s just a bit creepy is all I am saying.